All to play for in final fixtures

The Europa League group stages come to an end on Thursday with plenty still to play for across the 12 pools.

After five games some sides are already home and dry, but numerous issues remain unresolved elsewhere, most notably in Group A.

Valencia are through as group winners, but behind them Swansea and Kuban Krasnodar are thrashing it out for second.

The Swans are the current incumbents and if they go to St Gallen and match Kuban's result in Spain, they will progress.

If they lose, a win and three-goal swing will send the Russians onwards.

"Qualification is in our hands, and that's very important," said Swansea goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel.

"Of course, it also depends on how Kuban do in Valencia, but we will only be concentrating on our match.

"We want to qualify for the next round by getting a good result in St Gallen."

Second spot is the outstanding issue in Group B too.

Ludogrets top the table but their fellow qualifiers will come from the clash between PSV Eindhoven and Chornomorets. The two have seven points each with the Ukranians ahead on goal difference.

In Group D new Wigan manager Uwe Rosler will be looking to make an early impression as Athletic look to upset the odds and go through.

The Latics were beaten at home by Zulte Waregem last time out - a result which contributed to Owen Coyle losing his job - and they are third with a game to go.

They are in Maribor for their final clash and if they win - a tough ask - and already-qualified Rubin Kazan beat Zulte in Belgium, they will go on.

"For me this is the perfect opportunity, the perfect job," Rosler said of his new challenge.

"I believe I can fully fulfil my dreams and ambitions to end up where I was as a player; on top of English football."

The situation in Group C is easier to deal with, as Salzburg and Esbjerg face off for top spot, with the other game a dead rubber between Standard Liege and Elfsborg.

Group E is the same, with Fiorentina (13 points) and Dnipro (12) meeting and Pandurii Targu-Jiu and Pacos playing for pride only.

Eintracht Frankfurt are through in Group F thanks to a win over Bordeaux last time out, and if they beat Apoel Nicosia on Thursday, that will will send Maccabi Tel Aviv into the next round.

Maccabi have eight points and a better goal difference, so should be fine. They have a domestic derby to take care of at the weekend, but know they must still concentrate on Bordeaux on Thursday.

"Our next match is against Bordeaux, so we mustn't start thinking about next week's derby against Hapoel until that objective has been achieved," said Maccabi striker Rade Prica.

Genk have taken top billing in Group G and will be joined by either Dynamo Kiev or Rapid Vienna who meet in Ukraine, with Kiev needing a point to move on, while Group H throws up plenty of challenges.

Sevilla are top at the moment and they head to Freiburg who are three points and four goals worse off.

Sevilla are guaranteed a top-two finish, but Freiburg know any win will take them through, while the German side can also finish top with a victory by a three-goal margin.

A draw or defeat could spell disaster for Freiburg, with Slovan Liberec level with them on six points ahead of their clash at bottom side Estoril.

Lyon have taken qualification in Group I and Real Betis will join them with a point at home to Rijeka, while Guimaraes are also lurking and can cash in with a success over Lyon.

Group J is sorted. Lazio and Trabzonspor are through and meet on Thursday, with Apollon and Legia Warsaw making up the numbers.

Tottenham, who boast a 100 per cent record after five games, host fellow Group K qualifiers Anzhi Makhachkala - Sheriff and Tromso are the others - while in Group L, PAOK and AZ Alkmaar celebrate qualification with a game against each other, leaving Maccabi Haifa and Shakhtyor Karagandy to meet in a dead-rubber.